Category Archives: Middle Grade 8-12

MMGM Review: Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River by Nancy F. Castaldo

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Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River (Books for a Better Earth) by Nancy Castaldo

Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River
Nancy F. Castaldo
Holiday House
Published April 22, 2025

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About Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River

Dive headfirst into the history of environmental activism in the Hudson River watershed and learn how you can help organizations like Riverkeeper protect clean water around the globe!

Every inch of the United States is in a river’s watershed. But in 1966, one of our most important watersheds was dying. Dead fish washed up on the Hudson River’s shores, and the once-clear water reeked of oil. With too much pollution to support human … Continue reading →

Review: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

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The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Avi
Scholastic, Inc.
Published October 27, 2015 (Orig. 1990)

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About The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is excited to return home from her school in England to her family in Rhode Island in the summer of 1832. But when the two families she was supposed to travel with mysteriously cancel their trips, Charlotte finds herself the lone passenger on a long sea voyage with a cruel captain and a mutinous crew. Worse yet, soon after stepping aboard the ship, she becomes enmeshed in a conflict between … Continue reading →

MMGM Review: The Sky Was My Blanket by Uri Shulevitz

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The Sky Was My Blanket by Uri Shulevitz

The Sky Was My Blanket: A Young Man’s Journey Across Wartime Europe
Uri Shulevitz
Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Published August 12, 2025

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About The Sky Was My Blanket

From celebrated Caldecott Award–winning illustrator Uri Shulevitz comes the gripping and revealing true story of a young Polish exile fighting to survive in war-torn Europe.

Born in the tumult of World War I, a young Jewish boy named Yehiel Szulewicz chafes at the borders of his hometown of Żyrardów, Poland, and at the rules set in place by his restrictive parents. Brimming with a desire for true adventure, he leaves home … Continue reading →

Review: Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B. B. Alston

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Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B. B. Alston

Amari and the Despicable Wonders (Supernatural Investigations #3)
B. B. Alston
Balzer + Bray
Published August 27, 2024

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About Amari and the Despicable Wonders

The highly anticipated third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Supernatural Investigations series that began with Amari and the Night Brothers!

Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Nevermoor.

War has come to the supernatural world, and Amari’s two worst enemies are leading the charge.

Elaine Harlowe has manipulated her way into becoming prime minister, using her mind control ability to … Continue reading →

Review: The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Green

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The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Green

The Wild Robot Protects (The Wild Robot #3)
Peter Green
Little, Brown BFYR
Published September 26, 2023

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About The Wild Robot Protects

Life for Roz and the animals on their island is wild, natural, harmonious. Her son Brightbill has even found a mate! But then, one day an injured seal washes ashore and warns of dangerous, cloudy waters that are flowing toward the island—and soon the animals are forced inland to fight over dwindling resources.

Roz calms and organizes the animals, but the poison tide takes a terrible toll on the island. And when the robot discovers that her new … Continue reading →

MMGM Review: Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner

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Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner

Free Piano (Not Haunted)
Whitney Gardner
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published July 1, 2025

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About Free Piano (Not Haunted)

From beloved graphic novelist Whitney Gardner comes a big-hearted, touching, and spooky coming-of-age story about a young aspiring songwriter who forms a ghostly partnership with the pop star who haunts her secondhand piano.

The piano is free, but fame has a price.

On the sleepy streets of Cascade Cove, lonely Margot knows that when she stumbles across a discarded synthesizer with a “not haunted” sign, she’s discovered the key to realizing her dreams. Determined … Continue reading →